Worsfold wants early second round pick for Hibberd

Essendon coach John Worsfold says an early second round draft pick is a fair trade for defender Michael Hibberd.

Hibberd has requested a trade from the Dons, the first of Essendon's 12 current banned players to do so.

He is tipped to join the Demons next season, who have reportedly offered the 26-year-old a four-year deal.

Melbourne's earliest draft pick as it stands at the moment, is pick No.27. However, Worsfold says the Bombers will seek an earlier pick in exchange for Hibberd.

"What we think is fair may be different to what other clubs think is fair, but I would guess a pick in the early second round would be fair for us," Worsfold said.

“(A) first round pick would be very fair. There’s levels of fairness.”

So far eight players have committed to the club for next season, with Essendon still waiting on a decision from Jobe Watson, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears.

“They’ve all got their individual circumstances," Worsfold said.

"We’re not putting any extra pressure on any of them but there will be a time when we’ll say we need an answer.

“If that gets within a fortnight, we’ll be telling them you’ve got a fortnight to give us your final answer. But we’re still a bit off that.”